Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks. And congratulations to my buddy, Chuck. He wins.

The one consolation to losing a bet like this is that the city whose virtues I am honor bound to extol is one of my favorites. MY WIFE and I had a wonderful vacation in Chicago a couple of years ago. We found the people friendly and welcoming. I loved riding around on the CTA. The food was magnificent. The museums and other tourist attractions we visited were fantastic. Honestly, we think it's a great city.

Hey, at least I don't have it as bad as our nephew, my Godson, who goes to DePaul University. In the heart of enemy territory, he has proudly sported the B's colors throughout the playoffs. I suspect he's getting a bit of payback today.

To end this on a happy note, I'll give you a few photos from our Chicago vacation.

Architecture in Chicago is one of the great sights of the city

The Loop, heart of the subway system.

One of the hidden gems of the city - The Smith Museum of Stained Glass - is on Navy Pier

More architecture. Photos were taken while on the Chicago River Architecture Tour. If you're headed for Chicago, you MUST take this tour. I mean it. It is the best tour I've ever taken.

Wrigley Field, of course. For a baseball fan, it's a holy pilgrimage second only to Fenway.

"The Bean", which is what a lot of folks call it, but the actual name is Cloud Gate.

The next two shots are from inside of it.

Here are some random shots with no explanation.

And now, I am going to go have a cup of coffee, having fulfilled my obligation in a gentlemanly way.

Well, Jim -as a Pens fan, I can very much relate to your deflated feelings today. And, also, as a Pirates fan, I have often utilized the line "Always next year!" too. (Which by the way, this might actually be the year for the Pirates! Don't want to jinx them by saying that so you have to realize I was just whispering that for now!)

So sorry for the state of events, although hockey in itself is enjoyable no matter who is playing. Will see what happens next year, with hopefully a full season of play instead of this hectic half season. Nice photos, btw! A great way to fulfill the bet.

You were the FIRST person I thought about in the final minute of last night's game. UN-freakin'-BEE-LEAVE-ABLE, to say the very least. I've seen weird finishes to an SCF series, but never one like that. All that said, this was the best SCF I've seen since 2008. :-)

So. Next year. Which WILL be interesting, seein' as how the Beloved Wings and yer Broons are in the same division. Bring it!

A heartbreaking end for Boston fans, i know. In some championship matches, there's a clear better team, and in some, it's who can hang on the longest and get the luckiest breaks. That was this series, i think.

Chicago is beautiful, someday i'm going to take the City of New Orleans train up there and see for myself.

Awwww... so sorry for your loss, Mr Jim. Quite the upset ending to the game. Just remember, your team beat us in the first round, then got all the way to the final. Maybe next year. Oooops no. Next year will be the Maple Leafs turn to win.

(I know I sent this to you in a private e-mail earlier today, but, well, you know. . .)

I didn't have a particular horse in the Stanley Cup final (I like to think that the Red Wings 'toughened up' the Black Hawks in their 7-game 2nd-round series, but that had no bearing on any rooting interest I might have had in the final; of course, for your sake, I was pulling for the Broons). But that game last night had to be utterly brutal for Bruins fans. I can only imagine the emotional whiplash from 'bring on Game 7!' to 'holy f***ing shit' in 17 seconds.

Of course, the fact that the game will go down as a classic provides scant comfort, as you will now be privileged to re-live it again and again, whenever some media entity decides to help us all recapture the moment. . . Ugh.

Anyway, in the spirit of the most recent World Series, the '09 NCAA hoop final, and the '09 Cup final (to say nothing of the '05 NBA Finals, or 50+ years of rooting for the Lions) I can feel your pain. At least a little. . .

I promise, the sun will come up tomorrow (unless, you know, it doesn't, in which case we'll have bigger things to worry about. . .)

As to Chicago, most of my family that isn't me lives there (they snuck away while I was in college). Probably my favorite big city; incredible museums. . .

I'm sorry your hockey team didn't win the game against Chicago, Jim. It must have been heartbreaking to watch. Thank you for the update; I wouldn't have known had I not read your blog (can you tell that hockey is not real big down here in South Georgia. We do have the "Ice Dogs" (University of Georgia)....but I wouldn't have known that had I not Googled it.

I don't follow hockey (I don't live under a rock though, I knew about the finals), but I do love Chicago. It is my favorite "big" city. My wife had never been so I took her a couple of years ago and had a horrible time. But not so horrible to take away from the city. It's still my favorite.

I was just speaking of Boston the other day, how I loved the city and outter areas...and I was only there one time. Chicago..I guess I was too green when I went last time...many years ago. They have a common and that's sports fer sure.

Suldog...how have we both been blogging this long and i have never gotten my booty over here? I am a slacker, and you, good sir, are awesome. And I'm sorry about the Blackhawks. I live in St Louis and we bleed blue here, but I love to make an escape to Chicago every now and then. I lived in RI for awhile, but never made it to Boston. One of these days when my life is less about raising little adults and more about fun and adventure, I'm gonna go. ;)

When that last goal got by Rask, you were the first person I thought of, Sully. Just a horrible way to end a series, right up there with Dave Roberts stealing second base, leading to . . . well, you know the rest of THAT story, don't you?

I was really looking forward to a game seven myself, and I was most definitely behind the Bruins (once LA got bounced). I can't stand that Kane guy . . . looks and acts like a punk.

I am, among other things...

My actual name is Jim Sullivan, but I'll answer to Jim, Jimmy, Sully, Suldog, Laroooooo, or Your Prescription Is Ready. Despite all evidence to the contrary found within these pages, I am a professional writer.